Dewayne Johnson reacts after hearing the verdict in his case against Monsanto at the Superior Court Of California in San Francisco on Friday. Jurors ordered Monsanto to pay nearly $290 million, saying weed killers contributed “substantially” to Johnson’s terminal cancer.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A San Francisco jury on Friday ordered agribusiness giant Monsanto to pay $289 million to a former North Bay school groundskeeper dying of cancer, saying the company’s popular Roundup weed killer contributed to his disease.

Dewayne Johnson’s lawsuit was the first of hundreds of cases filed in state and federal courts alleging that Roundup causes non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which Monsanto denies.

Jurors in state Superior Court agreed the product contributed to Johnson’s cancer and the company should have provided a label warning of the potential health hazard. Johnson’s attorneys sought and won $39 million in compensatory damages and $250 million of the $373 million they wanted in punitive damages.

“This jury found Monsanto acted with malice and oppression because they knew what they were doing was wrong and doing it with reckless disregard for human life,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a member of Johnson’s legal team. “This should send a strong message to the boardroom of Monsanto.”

Monsanto has denied a link between the active ingredient in Roundup — glyphosate — and cancer, saying hundreds of studies have established that glyphosate is safe.

Monsanto spokesman Scott Partridge said the company will appeal. Partridge said scientific studies and two government agencies have concluded that Roundup does not cause cancer.

“We are sympathetic to Mr. Johnson and his family,” Partridge said. “We will appeal this decision and continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use and continues to be a vital, effective, and safe tool for farmers and others.”

Johnson used Roundup and a similar product, Ranger Pro, as a pest control manager for the Benicia Unified School District in Solano County, his lawyers said. He sprayed large quantities from a 50-gallon tank attached to a truck, and during gusty winds, the product would cover his face, said Brent Wisner, one of his attorneys.

Once, when a hose broke, the weed killer soaked his entire body.

Johnson read the label and even contacted the company after developing a rash but was never warned it could cause cancer, Wisner said. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014 at age 42.

“The simple fact is he is going to die. It’s just a matter of time,” Wisner told the jury in his opening statement last month.

But George Lombardi, an attorney for Monsanto, said non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma takes years to develop, so Johnson’s cancer must have started well before he began working at the school district.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says Roundup’s active ingredient is safe for people when used in accordance with label directions.However, the France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is part of the World Health Organization, classified it as a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015. California added glyphosate to its list of chemicals known to cause cancer.

Over the last week, Carnatic musicians in Tamil Nadu have been targets of a vicious online campaign. Internet users have descended on their Facebook pages, taken over YouTube comments sections and even Twitter threads to term them – ‘traitors of Hinduism’, ‘shamers of Carnatic music’ and ‘disgusting cretins’.

And all this because right wing fringe groups and online harassers seem to have suddenly discovered that popular Carnatic singers including Nityashree Mahadevan and OS Arun have been actively singing devotional songs for gods of other religions in traditional Carnatic krithis (songs). These ‘rasikas’ (connoisseurs) as they call themselves, have labelled this a threat to Hindu culture and have launched an insulting offensive against the artistes.

The trouble first started for singer OS Arun when he was scheduled to sing at an event in Chennai titled ‘Yesuvin Sangama Sangeetham’ conceptualised by T Samuel Joseph (Shyaam) on August 26.

“This was not the first time that we had collaborated. Shyaam has been working with several musicians in the industry for decades now. I myself have sung for albums on Jesus multiple time in a career spanning over three decades,” says Arun.

He alleges that there was a steady stream of distasteful remarks on his Facebook page and calls from people claiming to be ‘concerned’ Hindus from across the world.

The abuses and comments were over two primary issues – the first was over a Hindu singer choosing to sing in praise of gods of other religions and the second was the appropriation of Carnatic music by other communities.

Big conspiracy by xtians. Almost all Carnatic musicians have been compromised & seen at various events of the church. They are singing carols set in our Ragas. Bby Jayashri, Nithyashree, Aruna Sairam, OSArun some of them. Next is carols in Marghazhi kutcheris? ‘Music is secular’

“I announced the very next day that I will not participate in the event because I couldn’t deal with the pressure. Music is universal and democratic. I don’t think we can curb who sings what and certainly see no problem in using Carnatic krithis for songs on other Gods because we live in a time where we are learning from cultures across the world. I’ve been singing even ghazals for years and taking part in Sufi festivals. But does that mean I will become a Muslim? No, not at all. But with this pressing upon my mind, I felt my performance would not have been whole-hearted,” he says.

But even after the cancellation, Arun came under attack from S Ramanathan, the founder of Rashtriya Sanathana Seva Sangam (RSSS). In a leaked audio conversation with the head of this fringe group, Arun could be heard wondering why he was being singled out for the act while other singers had rendered other religious devotional songs. He further pointed out that Carnatic singer TM Krishna had performed at a church. On hearing this, Ramanathan threatened other singers with bodily harm and said he will be addressing them soon.

Following this, the harassers who claim to be connoisseurs of Carnatic music began their attack on other singers. They have pulled out pictures and videos of Aruna Sairam launching an album of traditional Christian songs set to classical Carnatic music from 2008, Nityashree Mahadevan singing a Christian song ‘Samaanulevaru prabho’ set to a traditional krithi in 2015 and OS Arun wearing a cross as he performs on stage.

Singers to blame?

“We have brought this upon themselves,” alleges TM Krishna. “Carnatic music is highly entrenched in the Brahmanical Hindu system and they have actively encouraged this. So now it is coming back to bite us. The reason that these people are behaving so harshly is because they think Carnatic singers are one of them and feel betrayed that they are not acting as per their bigoted beliefs,” he points out.

Krishna further believes that Arun should not have called off his performance.

“This is the time for musicians to take a firm stand. You should either say you are doing for money which is a professional reason or you truly believe that Carnatic music is not only for Hindus. This is not the time to get defensive,” he argues.

T M Krishna@tmkrishna

Considering the vile comments and threats issued by many on social media regarding Karnatik compositions on Jesus, I announce here that I will be releasing one karnatik song every month on Jesus or Allah.
T.M. Krishna #art#religion#jesus#allah#communalism#freedom#music

But that is exactly what happened. While Arun cancelled his concert following the online attack, Nithyashree and Aruna have been quick to dispel any notions that traditional Carnatic krithis can be used for devotional songs in other religions.

Singers on the defensive

“Rooted in Carnatic music, I have great respect for all composers, especially The Trinity. I would never ever attempt to sing a Thyagaraja krithi, replacing ‘Rama’ with any other name. That would be completely unacceptable,” says Nithyashree Mahadevan in a statement. “That said, I do not see Thayagaraja’s masterpiece ‘Rama nee samaana mevaru’ in ‘Karaharapriya’ to have semblance of any kind, to the Christian song ‘Samaanulevaru prabho’, composed mostly in ‘ShankaraabharaNam’,” she explains.

She further adds that her performance was an effort to promote communal harmony and that she belongs to a family ‘steeped in rich Hindu tradition’.

” I am extremely mindful of the lineage that I belong to, and I work very hard to serve, as well as preserve the rich Carnatic tradition that has nurtured me all my life,” says the singer. “I firmly believe that it is an unforgivable offence to be involved in an act that would tarnish the image of our rich tradition and heritage, community, society, nation, and mankind. I shall never ever commit or abet one myself,” she claims.

Aruna Sairam meanwhile tweeted to her ‘rasikas’ clarifying that she did not partake in any modification of krithis sung for evangelical purposes.

Aruna Sairam@arunasays

Dear Rasikas
Some rumours are doing the rounds on social media that I have modified traditional Carnatic kirtis and sung the same for evangelical purposes. I would like to clarify that I would I never tamper with classical content either for personal or commercial gains

These clarifications, however, have done little to stop the harassment. The singers have been accused of plagiarising, setting a bad example for younger generations and of selling Hindu traditions for money. There have even been calls to boycott their concert.

“This kind of bigotry is endless,” points out Swarnamalya, a dancer and dance historian. “Appropriation is something that has happened over time and even a Muthuswami Dikshitar whom we sing endless praises for, has composed songs in Sanskrit and Telugu based on Western notes. This later came to be known as ‘Nottuswara Sathiya’. Do we not call that genius?” she asks.

Then what has sparked this hatred now?

“I think it is the atmosphere we live in that is heightening all this. We have become ultra-sensitive and perceive some kind of offence on our culture, making us unnecessarily defensive.”

NEW DELHI: Students at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have released an official statement outlining their opposition to the invitation extended to Prime Minister Modi to attend the convocation ceremony as guest of honour. The ceremony is to be held on August 11.

The statement begins by questioning the central government’s contribution to higher education and job creation, going on to condemn “hate crimes happening across the country in name of religion, caste, ethnicity and race.” “We would like to question Mr. Modi’s silence on all these issues,” the statement concludes.

The statement in full:

As IIT Bombay students, we are proud that this institution has now stepped into its Diamond Jubilee year and occupied a prominent place among the other well-known institutes of learning in this world. However, the invitation to Mr Narendra Modi, prime minister of India, as a guest of honour in this year’s convocation, has raised concern among several students which we would like to share with the larger body of students, academicians and people in general.

We would like to question the contribution of the ruling government, whose head is PM Narendra Modi, to higher education and to other vital social issues affecting the social harmony and fundamental rights of a substantial section of the Indian population. Visits by politicians and ministers are not new for academic institutions, but the motive behind this invitation is also a matter of concern.

Whereas nobody would be stopping the prime minister from entering the campus, or delivering his speech, there are questions which we would like to raise here. These are the issues which affect even the privileged students in IITs as well as other students from more neglected institutions. Such issues should at least be raised, if not addressed by the authorities.

Let us begin with the question of poor public expenditure on higher education.

The Indian government’s expenditure on education is abysmally low, and it is almost negligible in higher education, compared to many other countries. Budgetary expenditure in higher education has been in steep decline for the last few years, as more and more private universities are coming up and public universities are compelled to hike their fees, leading a large number of students to difficulties and forcing many out of higher education.

This ever-declining public expenditure on education makes us question the higher education policy of the ruling government, and naturally we wonder whether Mr Modi wants higher education for all, or whether he is promoting the Brahmanical idea of education only for a few people, who belong to upper-caste and upper-class backgrounds.

Even out of this limited education budget, the share of the IITs alone is more than half. Academia in social sciences is facing an acute shortage of funds. We fear that the scrapping of the Non-NET fellowship in central universities or the scrapping of GOI-PMS scholarships (for SC, ST and OBC students) in TISS, are just the beginning.

Further fee hikes and scrapping of scholarships is expected if the present system is allowed to continue. Of course, the worst sufferers would be the underprivileged students coming from non-upper caste backgrounds. Already the General Financial Rules (GFR) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are about to be implemented in the central universities. If these rules are implemented a substantial expenditure of the central universities will have to be raised from fees paid by students. This will automatically lead to a fee hike. Is it wrong for us to question, what happens to the state universities? Is it wrong to consider this an attack on the entire academic community of the country as a whole?

Incidentally, IIT Bombay has already complied with GFR and recently a massive fee hike was announced. This is true of every other institutionno matter how privileged they are. Shouldn’t we ask here what happens to students who are not able to meet the increased financial burden of higher education without economic assistance from the state? Why shouldn’t we ask that this abysmally low budget in public education be raised immediately, and education be made inclusive?

The next set of concerns obviously arises with the Higher Education Committee of India (HECI) Bill, which is proposed to replace the UGC, the main body regulating funds given to institutes of higher education. Since the power to control funds will remain with the MHRD under the new act and HECI will have the power to punish or even shut down any institution which will not meet its guidelines, as researchers and students we suspect this to be an attack on the autonomy of universities.

Without grants, the universities are expected to repay the ‘loans’ they have taken from the MHRD, which will automatically lead to further hikes in fees, making the higher education spaces exclusionary for students. Already specialised centres like Centres for the Study of Social Exclusion or Centres for Women’s Studies, which deal with social exclusion and raise criticisms have been dissolved in universities like JNU and TISS. HECI will be able to regulate this to a far greater extent, totally curbing universities’ autonomy in selecting which courses to offer.

Will it be wrong for us to ask the prime minister why his government is hellbent on destroying the country’s educational institutions? Will it be wrong for us to ask why the government is scared of higher education and the freedom of teachers and students to select what they want to study?

The next very important concern is that of employment. Despite our privileged status as students of IIT Bombay, we are indeed concerned about the falling rate of employment across the country. The government has managed to create a very small number of jobs over the last few years. The speed of employment generation saw a six-year low in 2015, when only 135,000 new jobs were created compared to 421,000 jobs in 2014 and 419,000 in 2013 (as per a quarterly industrial survey conducted by the Labour Bureau under the Labour Ministry).

Jobs in the IT sector have dwindled to 1.5 lakh annual recruitments from over 3 lakh recruitments in previous years. After a survey conducted by the job site Naukri.com, the report said that “The overall job market saw an 11 percent fall in new jobs, with the IT-software industry most hit. The IT-Software industry saw a 24 percent decline in hiring in April 2017 as compared to April 2016.”

Besides, as per Labour Bureau figures, India added only 1.35 lakh jobs in eight labour-intensive sectors in 2015, compared to the 9.3 lakh jobs created in 2011. When recruitment in the government sector is negligible and employment in other sectors is falling, we are rightfully concerned about the validity of the entire ‘Make in India’ narrative and how much it actually guarantees.

Without the presence of any reservation for SC/ ST/ OBC candidates in the private sector, more than 50% of Indians with higher education are likely to be pushed out of the job market as well. The prime minister is expected to answer for this exclusion in the employment sector.

As researchers and students, we believe that academia is not something disconnected from society. We condemn all the hate crimes happening across the country in name of religion, caste, ethnicity and race. Somehow, the ruling government has found a way to defend or be silent about most such incidents.

As we write this, we condemn the rape and murder of women across the country, particularly of those who were targeted because of their Dalit, tribal or Muslim identities. We question the fact that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes got all solidarity from the ruling party.

We condemn all the atrocities committed on Dalits and Muslims over the last few years, in the name of religion and aggressive upper-caste pride. We ask how beef becomes so important an issue that living human beings are killed for it, and how the murderers get perfect impunity from the state.

We question how the government could so easily decide who is a citizen and who is not, on the basis of their religious identities.

But finally we would like to question Mr Modi’s silence on all these issues. As prime minister, we demand that he take a positive stand and condemn all the hate crimes committed and supported by his party members.

Gohain’s officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami claimed that the case against the minister had been withdrawn.

(File Photo of Union Minister Rajen Gohain | Source: PIB)

Guwahati: Assam police have registered a case against minister of state for railways Rajen Gohain for allegedly raping and threatening a 24-year old married woman in Nagaon district, a senior police officer said on Friday.

Gohain has also filed complaints of blackmailing against the woman and her family, his officer on special duty Sanjiv Goswami said when contacted, claiming that the case against the minister has been withdrawn.

When asked about the withdrawal, Nagaon police station officer-in-charge Ananta Das said the woman had pleaded to withdraw the case in court but the “case still stands… we will do our own investigation”.

Nagaon deputy superintendent of police (headquarter) Sabita Das said the case was registered against Gohain on August 2 after receiving a complaint at Nagaon police station. “We have registered the case. The investigation has already begun and we will proceed as per law,” she said.

Das, however, refused to share any details about the case.

“The FIR was registered under IPC sections 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation). We are investigating and have already noted the lady’s statement,” a senior officer said, adding that the woman had refused medical examination.

“The complaint says that the alleged incident took place seven to eight months ago. Both Gohain and the woman knew each other for a long time and the Union minister used to visit her home,” the official said.

Gohain had allegedly committed the crime at the woman’s home when her husband and other family members were not present, he said.

Asked if the minister’s arrest was imminent, the police official said, “We are probing now. If required, arrest will happen only after the probe is complete.”

Gohain did not answer the phone when contacted for a comment, while Goswami said the minister “will not speak to the media”. When asked about the alleged rape case, Goswami said it had been withdrawn. “There is no case as of today and as of now,” he said.